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Residents press council for speed-control measures near Washington Middle School; city to pursue radar signs
Summary
A resident presented a 100-signature petition demanding speed-control measures near Washington Middle School after repeated fence damage; city staff said they are procuring radar speed signs and expect implementation within 30–60 days while exploring enforcement options.
Residents urged the council to act on repeated speeding and safety risks near Washington Middle School. Miss Dwanda Mills told the council she led a petition of about 100 neighbors concerned that speeding on Martin Luther King Road and nearby streets endangers children and has already damaged property.
"Our streets are where our children play," Mills said, describing two collisions that damaged her fence in June and again in August. She asked the council for speed bumps, additional signage, lighting or other measures to protect the neighborhood.
An unidentified city official thanked her and said the city has identified candidate locations for radar speed signs, including Visalia Park, Southern Terrace Park and the curve on Martin Luther King near the school. The official said the city is in procurement—evaluating wired and solar options—and expects to see installations or initial measures within 30 to 60 days.
The city manager (speaker who identified themself as city manager) suggested exploring automated enforcement systems like the one used in Thomasville that can issue citations, saying that ticketing can change driver behavior. The official responding from staff said the city has not yet decided whether to deploy citation-capable devices and would consult the police chief on options.
Mills also described delays with an insurance claim and repair process, referencing difficulty coordinating with the sheriff's department and a named entity ("Cairo" as spoken in the transcript) before adjusters completed the fence repair; she said the fence is now fixed. She urged additional lighting and non-lethal physical measures to slow traffic in the dark curve where several incidents have occurred.
City staff said staffing limits constrain enforcement but that radar signs and data collection could improve targeting for patrols. No formal vote or ordinance was taken; staff said they would return with procurement details and implementation timing.
